Hello ladies. I'm grateful for receiving your input on my most recent post 💖

So me and partner have crossed into a deeper phase of the relationship. We have agreed that we are both interested in marriage as we have grown more in love and commitment after our 2 and half years together. We had a rough first year and a break. Then we got back together with some hard times and we held on. He has proved himself to be a caring, loving, responsible and stable young man with good prospects. I am proud that he is my partner.

We considering getting a promise ring as a symbol of our commitment to begin our courtship for marriage before we become engaged. We have both agreed engagement would be best after I graduated due to my traditional family background (they would like for me to finish school before I consider anything like that. The promise ring would be simple, inexpensive and a small symbol of what is yet to come.

However, is this cheating? Like is this giving in to the feelings of engagement without the full commitment on either side?

What do you ladies think?

I am happy for the promise ring but I have a little crumb of doubt that I am giving in rather than delaying the gratification of being engaged. Am i removing myself from the market when the goods haven't been paid for? Is it going to make him feel over confident and minimise the feeling of pursuit? Is it premature? I am 20 years old but I think this is an interesting conversation.

Thank you for discussing.

Update

I have decided not to accept a promise ring on the grounds that it would undermine an engagement ring. It would provide my partner with the satisfaction of a proposal without the initial effort and investment necessary for an engagement. As a remembrance of my partner he said he would like to give a necklace instead. The alternative is more fitting.